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Canada nominates Olympic short track team

Posted 8/29/13 by icenetwork
Charles Hamelin is fired up to once again be leading his country's short track team into the Olympic Games. -Getty Images

Speed Skating Canada nominated Thursday the 10 athletes who will represent the country in short track speed skating at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Leading the team is Charles Hamelin, a two-time gold medalist in Vancouver. Hamelin was the 500-meter champion and also captured gold as part of the 5,000-meter relay team. He recently won all eight of his races at Canada's team trials before injuring himself in the 1,000-meter semifinal and being forced to withdraw from the remainder of the competition. (The injury is not considered serious.)

"We will do everything in our power to make sure our country will be well represented in Sochi with our best performances," Hamelin said at the press conference in Montreal.

Joining Hamelin on the men's squad are Charle Cournoyer, Olivier Jean, Micheal Gilday and François Hamelin (Charles' brother). Jean was also part of that gold-medal-winning relay team.

The ladies quintet is headed by Marianne St-Gelais, who took silver in 2010 in the 500 meters and as a member of the 3,000-meter relay team. Another ladies standout is Valérie Maltais, the 2012 world champion in the 3,000 meters.

"Your short track team will be ready for the Olympics in Sochi," St-Gelais said.

Other ladies making the trip to Sochi will be Marie-Eve Drolet, Jessica Hewitt and Jessica Gregg.

All nominations are pending approval of the Canadian Olympic Committee.